Index: Interview with Robert Parke on October 26, 1976
Minutes/counter Side I
00/000 The University of Buffalo at the opening of Norton Hall
in 1934--the roads were in bad condition, but the grounds
seemed quite spacious.
03/035 Chancellor Capen, "small man, slight in build'( succeeded
in building a "progressive liberal university" on only
limited funds; comments regarding the University's
financial situation.
07/075 Capen's support of academic freedom based on Constitutional
guarantee of freedom of.speech; "the University
will always bear the imprint of that liberal attitude."
09/100 ·controversial faculty members; Nathaniel Cantor; employed
teaching methods designed to stimulate analysis and
creative thinking.
13/150 Parke's appointment as Director of Norton Union; only
candidate for the position who did not graduate from UB;
thought he would be with the University for a long time.
17/200
19/225
21/255
25/310
30/415
00/000
01/005
06/060
Difficulties beginning operations at Norton; enjoyment
of job; administrative differences between the Board of
Managers and the Board of Directors.
Chancellor Capen's involvement in student affairs; the
University Administration.
Physical description of Norton Union; food costs; problem
with auditorium floor.
Student activities; important in helping to build confidence
and a sense of responsibility; controversy over
the benefits of planned student activitie~; objections
from some faculty.
Optimis~ic time for UB despite the Depression.
Side II
Students' attitudes toward the University.
Faculty involved in student activities--Bert Lemon, Al
Brumbaugh, Carleton Scofield, Benjamin Baker; personnel
officer Edward Jones.
Relationship between Norton Union and the athletics program;
little interaction; athletics not very important
at UB; remembers problem concerning community disapproval
of female athletes wearing shorts.
Robert Parke page 2
Minutes/counter Side II (cont'd.)
09/095 Dorothy Haas; very able administrator, also got along
well with people; very important to Norton Union.
11/120 More on Haas; Dean Lillia~ MacDonald.
12/140 Role of fraternities and sororities in University life;
housed off campus but still important force; many of
the most active students were in Greek organizations;
Verol Reger, one example--member of fraternity and at
one time president of Norton Union; most students commuted.
16/190 Description of area surrounding the University in the
late 1930's; primarily private residences.
21/240 Dean Julian Park; relationship between students and
faculty; accessibility of Chancellor Capen; incident
involving a marble bench in Lockwood Library.
26/330 Character of the student body; anecdote told by Dr.
00/000
03./030
08/085
14/155
18/205
25/310
26/340
29/400
Grant Hector.
Side III
Dr. Hector; faculty student-affairs.
Tutorial system at UB; Parke's involvement with national
student personnel organizations; controv~~sy concerning
a proposed Wisconsin law making it mandatory to serve
cheese at every meal.
Mrs. Parke's relationship to UB; role in establishing
cooperative nursery school; eventual retirement.
Parke's reason for leaving UB, wanted to pe involved
with the war effort; employed by the Sterling Engine
Company as an industrial trainer; 1946 went into real
estate with Parke, Hall and Company.
Fenton Parke; started the Buffalo City Planning Association
with Chauncey Hamlin; interest in clock collecting
and Lincolnalia.
Margaret Kidd Parke; involvement in Buffalp civic affairs;
early death.
Decision to attend Antioch College; reorganization of
the school by Arthur E. Morgan.
End of interview.